Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-07
TABLE ECCENTRICITIEs.
How a Skillful Carver Gained the
Sobriuuet of"Banana Bob"

How a Skillful Carver Gained the
Sobriquet of"Banana Bob"
NEW YORK. March 5.-Eccentricity at
the dinner table seems to be the rage this
season. Any startling or unique innova-
ton appears to be welcome. The fresh
young man. who cuts a human face ON
an orange, and then squeezes the fruit
until the eyes weep and the mouth driZ-
zles, is in his glory. If ladies are at the
table he takes great pleasure in exhibit
ing his artistic skill. A few smile, some
give vent to EXPLANATIONS Of cOmmisera-
ton. and others preserve a dignifed
silence. Feeling an orange geometrically
is another accomplishment. The yellow
rind is cut in lines with a sharp pen
knife until it resembles the "prisoner's
puzzle" Just now attracting so much
attention. The skin is then stripped from
the fruit in sections, making quaint
angles, made amusing by the explana-
tions accompanying them. The apple,
the Malaga grape, the radish and the
banana also afford much amusement in
the hands of accomplished artists. In
deed one man has won such eclat by his
skill in carving vegetables and esculents
that he is known in society as banana
Bob.''
Frequently these dining table eccen-
triciiies are turned into practical jokes.
AT a little dinner given to ex-Sherif Will
liam Wright. of Newark, n. j., at George
Hopcrafps recently the guests were in
continual roar of laughter. The chocO-
late cream candies were stuffed with cot
ton, the lemon drops were made of gum
guaiacum and the candied almonds were
filed with Tabasco sauces. Vegetables
in covered dishes were placed on the table
with each course, and the guests were
asked to assist in serving them. In re-
moving the covers a live eel, an enormous
bull-frOg and huge lizard from Lake
Ontario were disclosed. All were eX-
tremely lively. The eel slipped within
the low-cut waistcoat of the Sheriff, the
bull-frog landed on Fish Commissioner
Charles Murphy's shoulder, and the liz
ard shot into the bosom OF the wicked
Senator Gibbs. An old shoe, widowed
and rotten, was placed before Mr.. Nc
SWYny, well-knOwn shoemaker. He
grew red in the face and was about to
treat the joke as mortal insult when the
Hon. James Oliver, OF Paradise Park,
turned the old shoe over, opened slide
In the sole and disclosed dozen cigars
of the finest flavor. The shoe was can
died dummy made to order. The little
party became 80 bOisterous in It's merri-
ment that a police officer of Irish descent
appeared. On seeing the condition OF the
table, the room and its occupants he
apologized for his intrusion, saying:
shin fanel shin fanel l thought yees
were havin' bit of ruction, but it's
nothin' but a shindyl"
He improved the opportunity offered
while all heads were turned listening to
good story to sweep the remains of the
confectionery into his capacious coat
pocket. The theft was discovered after
his departure. "If his vile gets a choco-
late cream, his mother.in-law lemon
drop, and the youngest child an almond
bean, what a happy time that policeman
will have after he gets home," OBJ
served the sheriff, and the hlarity was
redoubled.
hear of dinners in the avenue, where
living canarIes fly out of the pies, and
where bouquets OF choice flowers hoped
with diamond rings are placed at the
plate of each guest. AT another enter
tainmen:, tiny oil paintings on leaves of
ivory depicted scenes in the life of each
guest. Uncle Rufus Hatch displayed an
unmatched eccentricity prior to his de-
parture to Europe. He had invited
friend TO dine with him in private room
at MorellPs. An excellent dinner was
served. AT its conclusion, and while
the coffee was steaming, Rufus called for
Cubanos. They were brought. NOW
bring us light" said the eX-magnate
from Wall street. The waiter lighted a
short snowy-wicked candle. Rufus raised
the china candlsstick to his mouth and
lighted his cigar. He then replaced
the stick on the table, and to the sur
prise OF his guest, took the lighted candle
from its socket, put it in his mouth, ate
and swallowed it. He changed not
muscle of his countenauce, but there was
a merry twinkle in his gray eyes. A SINH
lar candle was placed before mis- guest,
who also lighted his cigar. When asked
why he did not eat the taper he replied
that he was no Cossack. Thereupon Ru-
fus opened his mouth and sent the second
candle into his stomach after the first
one.
1t was a week before the guest got an
explanation of the mystery. The candles
were parts Of apples fashioned into rotund
shape by the expert use OF a peuknife,
and the wicks were the meats OF almonds
pared down and stuck into the top OF the
vegetable Japers. ZIsKA.